Improvement in car-couplings



D. V.IB. SMART. CAR-COUPLINGS.

No. 194.791 Patented sept. 4,1877.

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UNI-Tan" STATES PATENT @Frio-a? DAViD-fvg B .j SMART, oETRoY, New YORKnvlPRovEMENT IN cAR-couPLlNes.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,792, datedSeptember 4, 1877; application filed` March 6, 1876.

. clare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure lrepresents a side elevation of my improved car-coupling; Fig. 2, partlya plan viewand partly a horizontal section; and Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the same.

This invention relates to an improved carcoupling of that class whichinterlock in selfacting manner without requiring the brakeman to enterbetween the cars and expose himself to danger 5 and the inventionconsists of a draw-bar with enlarged front or head, which is stiiienedby horizontal brace-bars, and provided at one side with an enlarged andbackwardly-inclinedshoulder or catchbar, on which a pivoted andspring-acted coupling-hook of the connecting draw-bar couples at anyheight.

The coupling-hook is pivoted between the stiiening-braces of thedraw-bar, and extended beyond the head sufficiently to provide for theenlarged catch-bar of the connecting draw-bar.

In the drawing, A represents the draw-bar of my improved car-coupling,and B the front or head of the same, which is extended upward anddownward to sufficient length to provide for the convenient coupling ofcars having platforms ot' different heights. The upper and lower ends ofthe head B are connected by curved or diagonal braces B1 with thedraw-bar, which has a central longitudinal recess for the coupling-hookD that is pivoted at the rear part of the recess, curved sidewise, andextended beyond the head B, having a hook end, F, whose outer side iscurved to couple self-actingly, and whose inner side is inclined inbackward direction.

The head B is stiffened at intermediate points between the ends byhorizontal bracebars B2 that impart the required strength and rigidityto the head to resist the concussions of the cars in coupling with eachother.

The coupling-hook D is forced against the arranged with a vertical angeor catch-bar,

E', that increases gradually in thickness toward the outer edge, andwhich has at the inside or rear face an angle of inclinationcorresponding to that of the inner side ofthe hook end F. This securesthe intimate and reliable interlocking of the coupling-hook of onedraw-bar with the enlarged catch-bar of the connecting draw-head, whileit increases the strength of the same at the point ofl greatest strain.The heads B are also provided with a horizontal opening, I, for theentrance ot' the ordinary coupling-link, and with holes J in the top,and intermediate brace-bars for the coupling-pin.

The approach of the cars for coupling brings rstthe curved ends of thehooks in contact with the enlarged catch-bars, and causes their lateralspreading until they have passed back of the catch-bars, and are thenthrown inwardly by their springs, so as to interlock with the same inreliable manner.

By drawing back the coupling-hooks the cars are easily uncoupled, andthus a coupling of simple construction, but considerable strength anddurability, obtained.

I am aware that car-couplings have heretofore been made with enlargedhead, a re-enforced face-plate braced at the top and bottom and on thesides, in connection with spring-hooks, and I do not claim such devicesbroadly.

In my construction the hook with a beveled face engages with lthebeveled ii'ace of the opposite draw-head, and the draw-heads are madewith braces Bl and B2, thus making a light, strong draw-head, and at thesame time providing a long beveled front face to engage with the hook.

Having thus described my invention., what I claim as new is- Inautomatic car-couplings, the draw-bar A,

having kan'. acutely-beveled hookrD, piivoised top and; bottom,by:(iaiggigixial:k bpaoeABv, andat itisl rear extremity, and supportedyby a, alsov internai` horizontal 'braces B21v substan-i-v springextending` forward and beyond the tially as shown and described.

pivot of the hook, and an enlarged head, B, DAVID V. B. SMART. formedwith a face-plate, E, re-enforced upon Witnesses: one side by a verticalHarige or ca tchfbanE l T B. liogJIER,

having an acute edge, and supported aA:x the F.1ROBERTB.

